What is a flu vaccination during pregnancy?
The flu vaccination is an annually newly developed vaccination against the current flu virus. From one flu season to the next, the flu virus usually changes significantly (it mutates), so that the old flu vaccines are no longer effective. Therefore, at the beginning of the flu season (usually in October) a new vaccine is released that is effective against the flu virus currently circulating. Since the flu can have a severe course in pregnant mothers as well as in the unborn children, pregnant women belong to the group of people for whom flu vaccination is generally recommended. Learn all about the
- Flu and
- Vaccination against influenza
Is a flu vaccination possible during pregnancy?
A vaccination against influenza is also possible during pregnancy. By a pregnancy the pregnant women belong automatically to the risk group, with which flu illnesses can run particularly heavily, therefore a flu inoculation is even recommended in the pregnancy. The flu vaccination does not contain any active substances that have a negative effect on the child during pregnancy.
Advantages of the flu vaccination
The flu vaccination during pregnancy has many advantages. During pregnancy the probability of a severe course of the flu with subsequent complications such as pneumonia increases enormously. Such progressions can be avoided by an early vaccination before the start of the correct flu season.
It is therefore recommended that pregnant women be vaccinated as early as October or November. However, influenza not only increases the risk of maternal illness. The child can also be damaged by the illness.
Another advantage of the flu vaccination is that the vaccination is a “therapy” for the flu, which is well tolerated by mother and child. Influenza medication, on the other hand, must often not be administered during pregnancy, as it can have negative consequences for the child. Even in the first months after birth, the child is still protected against the flu to a certain extent. This means that the time can be bridged until the baby itself can be vaccinated against the flu at six months. Respiratory infection during pregnancy
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